Foodgrains get drenched at Bhagtanwala mandi

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 11

The district received moderate rain, which led to waterlogging at Bhagtanwala Grain Market on Tuesday.

As employees of the market committee were on a strike, foodgrains got soaked in rainwater throughout the day. Due to tardy lifting, a large amount of wheat has been lying in the open in various grain markets of the district.

Out of 6,71,084 MT procured to date, only 3,04,234 MT produce has been lifted from grain markets. As a result, 3,66,849 MT of procured foodgrains were still lying in the open in different mandis across the district. Wheat crop lying in the open was more vulnerable to weather vagaries.

Despite tall claims of the state government, the district administration failed to lift procured foodgrains from mandis. Upset over non-lifting, labourers today staged the protest and boycotted the lifting.

Kapoor Singh, chief, Grain Market Mazdoor Union, said, “Transport contractors do not have sufficient number of vehicles. They are not lifting foodgrains and market is filled to the brim. Due to incessant rain, foodgrains lying in the open are getting damaged.”

In the absence of labourers, there was nobody to cover heaps of foodgrains and stocked gunny bags at the grain market.

In the evening, arhtiyas at the Bhagtanwala Grain Market assured labourers that they would ensure lifting of foodgrains on their own.

The mandi officials said only 1,128 MT produce has been purchased by private players, while remain has been procured by different procurement agencies.

Officials said Pungrian purchased 1,94,666 MT wheat followed by PUNSUP 1,64,182 MT, Markfed 1,47,087 MT, Punjab Warehouse 85,546 MT and the Food Corporation of India purchased 78,474 MT.